Can

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a container or can, especially for use with beverages; with an essentially cylindrical wall ( 1 ), which is closed on its top and bottom by a sheet metal cover ( 2 ) each joined to the wall ( 1 ), and with a sealing element ( 3 ), which is inserted into an opening in the sheet metal cover ( 2 ) and permits resealable opening of the can, where the opening in the sheet metal cover ( 2 ) is surrounded by a first conical part ( 13 ) of the sheet metal cover ( 2 ) tapering towards the interior of the can and extending between a circular folding edge ( 17 ) and the circular rim ( 20 ) of the opening, and where the sealing element ( 3 ) is provided with an essentially cylindrical holding section ( 7 ), which is inserted into the opening of the sheet metal cover ( 2 ) and has a peripheral groove ( 21 ), which receives the first conical part ( 13 ) of the sheet metal cover ( 2 ) and is bounded in the direction away from the can by a second projection ( 8 ) against which the folding edge ( 17 ) rests. A simple design and economical manufacture can be achieved by providing that a screw cap ( 5 ) of the sealing element ( 3 ) rests against the second projection ( 8 ) in the closed state.

The invention relates to a container or can, especially for beverages, with an essentially cylindrical wall, which is closed on its top and bottom by sheet metal covers joined to the wall, and with a sealing element, which is inserted into an opening in the sheet metal cover and permits resealable opening of the can, where the opening in the sheet metal cover is surrounded by a first conical part of the sheet metal cover tapering towards the interior of the can and extending between a circular folding edge and the circular rim of the opening, and where the sealing element is provided with an essentially cylindrical holding section, which is inserted into the opening of the sheet metal cover and has a peripheral groove receiving the first conical part of the sheet metal cover and being bounded in the direction facing away from the can by a second projection against which the folding edge rests.

State-of-the-art beverage cans have sealing elements which are ripped open by the user to make an opening in the can. Usually such openings cannot be resealed. Various other sealing elements are known which permit opening and resealing of the can. These elements are difficult to manufacture, however, and failure-prone if mass-produced and thus a source of problems.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,687,831 A shows a can with a sealing element which snaps into a corresponding retaining element. A sealing element of this type is suitable for fastening a spout but will not be able to withstand the forces and moments arising in a screw-type closure. Further closures with insufficient strength are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,998,354 A and U.S. Pat. No. 4,327,842 A.

It is an object of the present invention to propose a can with a resealable sealing element, which is simple and economical to manufacture and easy to handle. The sealing element is to be particularly robust and should neither impede storing nor disposing of the can. In particular, the forces and moments arising in the opening of the can should be reliably supported.

According to the invention it is provided that a screw cap of the sealing element rests against the second projection in the closed state. The essential aspect of the invention is that the sealing element may be simply and reliably inserted into the opening of the sheet metal cover. The result is a kind of snap-on connection, which permits relatively easy insertion of the sealing element into the opening if dimensions are properly chosen, but will also guarantee a secure seat of the element. At the same time a liquid-tight seal will be provided, which will prevent undesirable spilling of the contents of the can.

Particularly reliable functioning of the sealing element together with robustness of construction will be achieved if the screw cap of the sealing element presses against the second projection in the closed state. This will provide a secure end position when the cap is screwed on.

Assembly of the can will be made particulary easy if the peripheral groove of the holding section is bounded in axial direction by a first projection, which has a supporting shoulder on the side of the groove and is conical on the opposite side. In this way the sealing element will slip easily through the rim of the opening upon insertion into the opening without causing a permanent deformation.

A particularly secure seat of the sealing element will be achieved by giving the peripheral groove of the holding section a width in axial direction which corresponds to the axial extension of the first conical part of the sheet metal cover. This will eliminate play in the axial direction of the sealing element. It will be of particular advantage in this case if the peripheral groove of the holding section is bounded in the direction away from the can by a second projection against which the folding edge rests.

It has been found to be particularly advantageous if a second conical part, which is radially adjacent to the first conical part and tapers in the direction away from the can, is provided on the outside of the first conical part. This will enhance the spring-effect, providing sufficient elasticity to avoid damage when the sealing element is inserted, even when hard plastic materials are used.

From the point of view of material strength it is of particular advantage if the opening is placed excentrically in the sheet metal cover, i.e. immediately adjacent to the rim of the cover. This will also enable the user to completely drain the contents of the can.

A particularly simple design is achieved if the sealing element consists of a single-piece base part and a screw cap.

In the case of beverage cans it is often required that a safety seal should offer the possibility to discern whether the can still has its original seal or has been previously opened. A rip-up safety cover can fulfill this function. Advantageously, the safety seal is part of the plate whose rim forms the second projection against which the folding edge rests. As an alternative it would also be possible to provide a screw cap with a pilfer ring, as used with beverage bottles.

A robust design and reliable functioning is achieved if the the screw cap of the sealing element rests against the second projection in the closed state. This defines a secure end position when the cap is screwed on.

The sealing element is preferentially made of plastic material, in particular of a polyolefin such as PE or PP.

The can may be made stackable by providing a recess in the sheet metal bottom opposite to the sealing element in the sheet metal cover, which is shaped to receive the sealing element of another can onto which the first can is stacked. In this way stacks of cans may be formed in which the cans rest one upon the other and are secured against lateral slipping or toppling without exposing the sealing elements to undue loads.

The invention will be further described below, with reference to the embodiment shown in the enclosed drawings.

FIG. 1 presents a partial section through a can according to the invention; and

FIG. 2 shows a detail of FIG. 1.

The can of FIG. 1 has a cylindrical wall 1, which is closed on top by the sheet metal cover 2 provided with a sealing element 3. The sealing element 3 consists of a base part 4 and a screw cap 5 which is screwed onto the base part 4.

The base part 4 comprises a plate 6 onto which is formed an annular cylindrical downward extension 7 forming a holding section. Beyond the diameter of the holding section 7 the plate 6 continues as a flange, which is here referred to as second projection 8. Below the second projection 8 there is provided a first projection 9, which also is annular.

In plate 6 there is provided a safety lid, which may be ripped up by means of the loop 11. On the one hand this will provide additional safety against spilling or contamination of the contents prior to the first opening of the can, on the other hand it permits the user to ascertain whether the can is in pristine condition or has already been opened.

The rim area 12 of the sheet metal cover 2, which surrounds the opening into which the sealing element 3 is inserted, consists of a first conical section 13 tapering in the direction towards the can's interior and extending between a circular folding edge 17 and the circular rim 20, which is the border of the opening. The first conical section 13 connects to a second conical section 14, which in turn is joined to another conical section 15 at yet another folding edge 19.

The circular rim 20 presses under preload against a groove 21 of the holding section 7, which runs around the periphery of the downward cylindrical extension 7 between a first projection 9 and a second projection 8. The circular rim 20 abuts against the supporting shoulder 16 of the first projection 9. Due to preloading a reliable seal of the sealing element 3 against the sheet metal cover 2 of the can is ensured.

Since the axial width of the groove 21 and the height of the conical section 13 are approximately equal the folding edge 17 abuts against the underside 18 of the second projection 8.

The first projection 9 has a bevelled area 22 on its underside opposite the supporting shoulder 16. Thus the sealing element 3 can be attached to the can during production in a simple manner by snapping it into to opening of the sheet metal cover 2. The first conical section 13 widens elastically and after slipping over the first projection 9 locks into the groove 21. When the can is disposed of the sealing element 3 may be separated from the can in a simple manner.

The present invention will permit manufacture of a robust resealable container in a simple manner, thus achieving high practical value. 

1. A can which has an essentially cylindrical wall (1), which is closed on its top and bottom by a sheet metal cover (2) each joined to the wall (1), and with a sealing element (3), which is inserted into an opening in the sheet metal cover (2) and permits resealable opening of the can, where the opening in the sheet metal cover (2) is surrounded by a first conical part (13) of the sheet metal cover (2) tapering towards the interior of the can and extending between a circular folding edge (17) and the circular rim (20) of the opening, and where the sealing element (3) is provided with an essentially cylindrical holding section (7), which is inserted into the opening of the sheet metal cover (2) and has a peripheral groove (21), which receives the first conical part (13) of the sheet metal cover (2) and is bounded in the direction away from the can by a second projection (8) against which the folding edge (17) rests, wherein a screw cap (5) of the sealing element (3) abuts against the second projection (8) in the closed state.
 2. The can according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral groove (21) of the holding section (7) is bounded in axial direction by a first projection (9), which has a supporting shoulder (16) on the side of the groove and which is conical on the side opposite the supporting shoulder (16).
 3. A can according to claim 1, wherein a width of the peripheral groove (21) of the holding section (7) in axial direction corresponds to the axial extension of the first conical part (13) of the sheet metal cover (2).
 4. A can according to claim 1, including a second conical part (14), which tapers in the direction away from the can, radially outside the first conical part (13).
 5. A can according to claim 1, wherein the opening is positioned excentrically in the sheet metal cover (2) and is immediately adjacent to the edge of the sheet metal cover (2).
 6. The can according to claim 1, wherein the sealing element (3) consists of a single-piece base part (4) and a screw cap (5).
 7. The can according to claim 6, wherein the sealing element (3) has a safety lid (10), which can be ripped open.
 8. The can according to claim 7, wherein the rip-up safety lid (10) is part of a plate (6) whose rim forms the second projection (8) against which the folding edge (17) abuts.
 9. The can according to claim 7, wherein a rip-up loop (11) is formed onto the safety lid (10).
 10. The can according to claim 1, wherein the sealing element (3) is made of a plastic material.
 11. The can according to claim 1, wherein the lower sheet metal cover situated opposite the sheet metal cover carrying the sealing element, has a recess which is shaped to receive the sealing element of another can onto which the first can is stacked.
 12. The can according to claim 10, wherein said plastic material consists of a polyolefin. 